I'm not super aware of what FD's are worth in the US at this point, but can someone tell me what a normal price for an FD in good condition and either low miles or rebuild with a good list of mods (coilovers, LSD, exhaust, etc) costs?

I'm wondering how much I will need to save up before I come back from Japan.

 

A low mileage car with proper mods should be around $13-15k. This of course depends on a few variables. Plan to shoot high. Any extra cash can always be used for mods and maintenance. Not many upgrade the diff unless they are racing or sporting big power.

 

Right... Putting an LSD in is very common in Japan, but not in the US...

It's pretty much a must on the track or for drifting though.

Thanks!

 

You can offset some of the cost on some of the items you mentioned by purchasing them used in Japan.

Estimating the cost of an FD is subjective, especially depending on year, model, color, etc.

If you are looking to "squeak by" with just enough to purchase one, then I think you will be in trouble when unexpected costs arise.

Peruse the 3rd Gen Cars for Sale section to see costs of cars and what is being offered with each. That will give you a decent perspective.

 

This Is my thought! I love my FD and thought I got a great deal! was able to pick a r1 for under 9k running with a few things missing... well after putting everything I want in the car and its still not done after a blown motor. I dumped another 10k if not more... My advise, find a well done car for a higher price, it will save you a head ace in the end. I could have got a great car 14k or a REALLY great one for 16-18k but for anywhere from 10-12k you can scrape by. just my two cents... good luck though!

 

All FDs have a great LSD stock. The best advice is to buy a great car spending more money than a car with needs. The trouble is finding them and telling the difference between a car with a big mod list and a car that is done right.

 

Save about 10K. That should get you a clean FD.

 

Beg to differ. After driving with a 1.5 and a 2 way diff (drifting) it makes a big difference. But just for cruising, I'll agree with ya. And he's right, we all use aftermarket diffs in Japan.

 

great info

 

FWIW, I was going to aim for a car that's had plenty of work and reliability mods, and good maintenance, even if it costs a little more, rather than looking for a great deal or a project car. Only problem is that FD's are insanely rare (to begin with in the US, but especially) where I'm from. They practically grow on trees here. I could probably get a Power FC used for a good price, too... I bought one for my MR2 but I haven't got around to installing it since it won't do any good without a boost controller (and the tuning would run about $800... and that's not even on a dyno) and I need a new intake.

That said, I don't care about paint or minor body flaws, so long as the frame is straight. Year isn't a big issue, and neither is mileage depending on the condition or level of restoration. Of course, the version of FD sold in the US is considered way, way too old in Japan. You can get them for a few thousand dollars.

Premixing is something I don't want to have to deal with, though...

But I don't know if I have eight months left here, or another year and a half. That will make the difference. I should be getting a NICE fat rebate check from the Japanese pension system when I leave. Not enough to buy an FD outright, though. And I have some bills to pay (I haven't even paid for my MR2 yet...hehe).

I might just save up and buy a bunch of parts for my FC... but it needs a LOT of work. The oil seals are ruined, I want a turbo swap and rebuild, I need new paint and a lot of rust removal (but that's been a LOOONG time coming; the paint WAS bad, now it's ruined from sun exposure), it needs new tires...and I want LSD, coilovers, new full exhaust system... FMIC...boost controller... some sort of computer... Even if I can get all these parts for cheap here, I don't even want to think about how I'm going to get them home. Also, my interior is going to need to be restored majorly because of the sun damage, made more ironic that I bought a car cover before I left, but it never got put on the car.

Oh well, at least I'll be able to enjoy driving my SW20 on a number of tracks. And my the new bucket seat and Nardi wheel I bought should be reasonably easy to get home with my other stuff. My old Momo wheel and generic bucket seat were in pretty sad shape.

 

get a loan and go searching cause u might not find one you like when you get all the money

 

I bought a bone stock FD for a great deal, low mileage and great condition. Half a year later, that low mileage motor has a leaking coolant seal. I'd keep that in mind, like a lot of people advise, have 4-5k saved up in case that happens, or be prepared financially to work for it while the car is down.

I bought bone stock, I kind of regret it in some ways, when I price everything together. There are some nice steals our there, even if they are 20k+. Problem with buying a car that has the bulk of the work done is you don't know the quality of the work. Unless its someone from this forum, one of the other forums, there's no guarantee. Even freshly rebuilt engines blow if they're not properly done, so make sure whoever does the build is a trustworthy builder. Then, it's a fairly old car, even if it's well taken care of issues are bound to pop up, small things, big things, always something happening lol.

Also, most likely you're going to have to get the car shipped to you, especially if they are non-existant in your area, meaning you'd buy sight unseen. That or find one within driving distance. I actually bought my FC sight unseen. Thank God I was lucky, it's absolutely pristine. Gorgeous thing.

Just my 2c.

P.S. Make sure you pack your suitcase with FD goodies before you leave!

 

I'm already going to have WAAAY too much stuff to take home. My road bike, airsoft guns and gear, computer....sigh.

I can handle a leaking coolant seal... that was what FC had when I bought it forever ago. I rebuilt it myself. Only problem was that the next time I had to pull the motor apart (rear stat gear wouldn't fit back in after changing the O-ring..sigh), I didn't replace the oil seals and it started eating twice as much oil as normal. Now after leaving it alone for a year it blows oil smoke at high RPMs. And all the rust removal I did years ago... well, epic fail. I suck at body work.

Also, there's no way I want an FD with a sunroof. As it is, I can't fit into an FD without an aftermarket steering wheel and spacer (not a big deal), and to be comfortable I need a bucket seat and low rails, so I don't want to lose any precious headroom like I did with my FC's sunroof (never used it anyway).

Also, a black interior would be nice.

 

$10k will not buy you a solid low mileage car. I would spend $14-15k and get a low mileage car WITH a new motor

 

I wouldn't have expected it to. Do low mileage FD's that are actually being driven and maintained/restored even exist any more?

 

They are rare. I bought my FD with 40k on the clock for 14.7k. It was babied by a 57 year old man who always took it to an rx7 specialized dealer and had receipts for everything. The car was rock solid but I still pursued reliability mods. 3k later it now has water and boost gauges, silicone vac hoses, Azeknightz solenoids, pettit downpipe, new pulsation damper, fc thermoswitch, new radiator/turbo coolant lines, SS omp lines with new nozzles, and many more NEW oem parts. Ray at Malloy Mazda is the man. Even if the car has low miles be prepared to run into broken things. Everything that once was rubber is now very brittle plastic. And not to mention, everything that's brittle and breaks easily is usually a $100 part! So definitely take your time with working on it and plan at least a weeks downtime for big projects or have a second DD.

 

Low mileage = under 80k miles

 

Which would be considered high mileage in Japan...hehe

 

It's funny you say that, but its so true. My FD only has 85,263 kms on it.

 

This seems about right..

 

Damn a low mileage for 13-15 with some mods?

what is considered low mileage? 50,60k? The market is not that bad then.

 

Double post

 

You can find them easily for 10k but you'll spend a good 15k on maint and upgrades and spend very little time driving the car.

It's really hard to find a nice one these days and when they come along be ready to drop 20 to 25k.

 

Including my car and upgrades I have over $30k my car is still under 70k miles I had it since 39k. I wouldn't let it go for no less than $30k IMO

Low miles and mild aftermarket parts on a good condition fd in this market I would say you need 17k -20k for "add gas "only fd.

 

Your looking at least $20K for a nice FD, weather you buy a nicely upgraded one or buy a stock one and upgrade it yourself. Although I like the process of upgrading and modding my FD, but if I had to do it over again, I would have just pay the extra $$ and brought a nicely mod FD. With car and upgrades I'm well over $20K and it's only about half way to the finish line.